Magnetic roller

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides an improved structure of a magnetic roller. The magnetic roller has a pull rope brake set, mainly including left and right drive gears, both of which are assembled onto the main disk nearby the swinging end of the left and right swinging magnetic disks. The left and right drive gears are engaged through the gear tooth. The pull rope&#39;s coupling portions are assembled onto left and right drive gears corresponding separately to swinging end of left and right swinging magnetic disks. The pull rope includes first and second pull ropes, the first pull rope being used to link the pull rope&#39;s coupling portion of the left drive gear and the swinging end of right swinging magnetic disk, while the second pull rope is used to link pull rope&#39;s coupling portion of right drive gear and the swinging end of left swinging magnetic disk.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED U.S. APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

NAMES OF PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not applicable.

REFERENCE TO AN APPENDIX SUBMITTED ON COMPACT DISC

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a magnetic roller, and more particularly to an innovative magnetic roller with pull rope braking members.

2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 37 CFR 1.98.

A magnetic roller refers to a damping device used in fitness equipment, for example, an oval track stepper is equipped with a magnetic roller for regulating resistance.

FIG. 1 depicts the structure of a typical magnetic roller, which generally comprises a freewheel 10, arc magnetic disks 11, restoring springs 12, a control rope 13 and a brake 14. Two sets of arc magnetic disks 11 are assembled symmetrically in a rotating state. The exterior of two arc magnetic disks 11 is spaced from the interior magnetic surface 101 of freewheel 10. The swinging ends 110 of two arc magnetic disks 11 are linked by a control rope 13, the middle section of which is assembled on said brake 14. Two sections of the control rope 13 pass over an axis 15 to form a “L”-shaped path. The brake 14 may slide vertically (e.g. driven by the pull rope). When the brake 14 slides upwards, it is supported by the axis 15, so that two sections of the control rope 13 are pulled inwards, and the swinging end 110 of two arc magnetic disks 11 are driven to swing inwards, allowing to adjust the spacing between the exterior of two arc magnetic disks 11 and the magnetic surface 101 of freewheel 10 (the strength of magnetic resistance).

The following disadvantages are found from this structure during applications. The two sections of the control rope 13 are designed to pass over axis 15 along a “L”-shaped path, but the control rope 13 is generally made of a steel rope with stronger strength and inflexibility. During the shift process of control rope 13, unsmooth behavior may likely occur, leading to poorer operational accuracy, sensitivity and performance.

Thus, to overcome the aforementioned problems of the prior art, it would be an advancement in the art to provide an improved structure that can significantly improve efficacy.

To this end, the inventor has provided the present invention of practicability after deliberate design and evaluation based on years of experience in the production, development and design of related products.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

There is enhanced efficacy by the present invention. First, the first and second pull ropes 41, 42 are pulled linearly, without the turning portions of typical structure. So, the pull rope operates more smoothly and accurately with improved performance and applicability. Second, as the gear tooth 53,54 is engaged, the left and right drive gears 51, 52 may rotate in opposite directions, thus ensuring balanced drive with better performance.

The improvements are brought about by this invention. First, the bearing 24 for central axis 21 is an axially located bearing in the middle position. Since the bearing 24 is placed nearby the pull rope brake set 50 moving frequently under the pulling force of the brake rope 70, it is possible to provide a balanced stress, prolonging the service life of components and reducing the operating noise. Second, based upon the structure of the assembly ends 31 of left and right swinging magnetic disks 30, 30B, the assembly ends 31 are installed onto the same pin joint portion 29 of the main disk 20, the left and right swinging magnetic disks 30, 30B being supported by a single pivot point, thus making it possible to operate more smoothly in a balanced state.

Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a sectional view of the prior art structure of a magnetic roller.

FIG. 2 shows an assembled perspective view of the structure of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a partial exploded perspective view of the structure of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows an assembled sectional view of the structure of the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows an elevation view of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 shows a partial elevation view showing operation of the present invention of FIG. 5, which is provided additionally with a driven portion and brake rope.

FIG. 7 shows another elevation view of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 shows a partial elevation view showing operation of the present invention of FIG. 7, which is provided additionally with the driven portion and brake rope.

FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the brake rope of the present invention for reversing assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The features and the advantages of the present invention will be more readily understood upon a thoughtful deliberation of the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 depict preferred embodiments of improved structure of the magnetic roller of the present invention. The preferred embodiments are provided only for explanatory purposes. The magnetic roller A comprises a main disk 20, a central axis 21, a freewheel 22, left and right swinging magnetic disks 30, 30B and pull ropes 41, 42 as well as a brake set 50. The central axis 21 is assembled into the axle hole of bearing 24 at central axle seat 23 of the main disk 20, while the left and right swinging magnetic disks 30, 30B are mounted symmetrically on the same side of main disk 20 through the assembly end 31. So, the magnetic surface 32 of left and right swinging magnetic disks 30, 30B is placed opposite to the interior magnetic surface 221 of freewheel 22. With an elastic member 60 (e.g. spring), the left and right swinging magnetic disks 30, 30B permit resetting of the swinging end 33. Moreover, the swinging end 33 of left and right swinging magnetic disks 30, 30B is driven by the pull ropes 41, 42 and the brake set 50.

The pull rope brake set 50 comprises left and right drive gears 51, 52, both of which are assembled onto the main disk 20 nearby the swinging end 33 of the left and right swinging magnetic disks 30, 30B. The left and right drive gears 51, 52 are engaged through the gear tooth 53, 54, so that they rotate in opposite directions. Moreover, at least one drive gear 51 or 52 is provided with a driven portion 57, while the pull rope's coupling portions 55, 56 are assembled onto left and right drive gears corresponding separately to a swinging end 33 of left and right swinging magnetic disks 30, 30B.

The pull rope comprises the first pull rope 41 and second pull rope 42 arranged in a cross way. The first pull rope 41 is used to link pull rope's coupling portion 55 of left drive gear 51 and the swinging end 33 of right swinging magnetic disk 30B, while the second pull rope 42 is used to link pull rope's coupling portion 56 of right drive gear 52 and the swinging end 33 of left swinging magnetic disk 30.

The left and right drive gears 51, 52 may be comprised of inner and outer pedestals 511, 521 and 512, 522. The inner pedestals 511, 521 are assembled within the main disk 20, and the outer pedestals 512, 522 are assembled outside of the main disk 20. The inner and outer pedestals 511, 521 and 512, 522 are linked by a locating portion. FIG. 4 depicts said locating portion. A protruding portion 523 from the outer pedestal 522 (or 512) bypasses a through-hole 25 (shown in FIG. 3) on the main disk 20, and is then inserted into a groove 524 of the inner pedestals 511, 521, and fastened by a bolt 525. The gear tooth 53, 54 could be placed on the inner pedestals 511, 521, while said driven portion 57 is placed on outer pedestals 512, 522.

The driven portion 57 may be comprised of an arc trough 571 and a locating slot 572 at one end of arc trough 571. The driven portion 57 of left and right drive gears 51, 52 is configured symmetrically. Next, assembly portions 27, 28 are set on the main disk 20 corresponding to the driven portion 57 of the left and right drive gears 51, 52, thereby enabling assembly of a predefined brake rope 70. As the driven portion 57 of left and right drive gears 51, 52 is configured symmetrically, said brake rope 70 could be inserted from the right-hand, as shown in FIG. 2, so that the pipe 71 is installed onto the assembly portion 28 of the main disk 20. Then, the brake rope 70 bypasses arc trough 571 of left and right drive gears 51, 52, allowing the expanded head 72 to be embedded into the locating slot 572 of the driven portion 57 of left drive gear 51. The assembly view of brake rope 70 in the opposite direction is shown in FIG. 9.

The elastic member 60 of left and right swinging magnetic disks 30, 30B are assembled between swinging ends 33 of the left and right swinging magnetic disks 30, 30B.

Referring to FIG. 4, the bearing 24 for central axis 21 is an axially located bearing (i.e. reference numeral 24).

The assembly ends of left and right swinging magnetic disks 30, 30B could be installed onto the same pin joint portion 29 of the main disk 20.

Based upon the above-specified structures, the present invention is operated as follows:

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, when the magnetic roller A of the present invention is operated normally, the left and right swinging magnetic disks 30, 30B are supported by the elastic member 60 in an open state. In such a case, there is a minimum spacing between magnetic surface 32 of left and right swinging magnetic disks 30, 30B and the interior magnetic surface 221 of freewheel 22, namely, maximum magnetic resistance.

Referring also to FIGS. 7 and 8, when the brake rope 70 pulls the driven portion 57 of left drive gear 51 or right drive gear 52, the gear tooth 53, 54 of left and right drive gears 51, 52 will be engaged, enabling the rotational movement of left and right drive gears 51, 52. Moreover, under the pulling force of crossed first pull rope 41 and second pull rope 42, the swinging end 33 of left and right swinging magnetic disks 30, 30B may swing in opposite directions, thus expanding the spacing W between magnetic surface 32 of left and right swinging magnetic disks 30, 30B and interior magnetic surface 221 of the freewheel 22, namely, reducing magnetic resistance. 

1. A magnetic roller, comprising: a main disk, said main disk having a central axle seat; a central axis being assembled into a bearing as said central axle seat of said main disk; a freewheel; left and right swinging magnetic disks being mounted symmetrically on a same side of said main disk through an assembly end and having magnetic surfaces placed opposite to an interior magnetic surface of said freewheel, said left and right swinging magnetic disks having an elastic member and swinging ends, said elastic member resetting the swinging ends; pull ropes, driving the swinging ends of said left and right swinging magnetic disks and comprising a first pull rope and a second pull rope arranged in a cross way, said first pull rope having a coupling portion linking the left drive gear and the swinging end of the right swinging magnetic disk, said second pull rope having a coupling portion linking the right drive gear and the swinging end of left swinging magnetic disk; and a brake set comprising left and right drive gears, the gears being assembled onto said main disk nearby the swinging ends of the left and right swinging magnetic disks, the left and right drive gears being engaged through a gear tooth and rotating in opposite directions, at least one drive gear being provided with a driven portion, the coupling portions of said pull ropes being assembled onto said left and right drive gears corresponding separately to the swinging ends of left and right swinging magnetic disks
 2. The magnetic roller defined in claim 1, wherein said left and right drive gears are comprised of inner and outer pedestals, the inner pedestals being assembled within said main disk, the outer pedestal being outside of said main disk, the inner and outer pedestals being linked by a locating portion, said gear tooth being placed on the inner pedestal, said driven portion being placed on outer pedestals.
 3. The magnetic roller defined in claim 1, wherein the driven portion is comprised of an arc trough and a locating slot at one end of said arc trough, the driven portion of left and right drive gears being symmetrical the assembly portions being set on said main disk corresponding to said driven portion of the left and right drive gears.
 4. The magnetic roller defined in claim 1, wherein said elastic member of said left and right swinging magnetic disks is assembled between swinging ends of the left and right swinging magnetic disks.
 5. The magnetic roller defined in claim 1, wherein said bearing for said central axle seat is an axially located bearing.
 6. The magnetic roller defined in claim 1, wherein the assembly ends of said left and right swinging magnetic disks are installed onto a same pin joint portion of said main disk. 